[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 27 (Friday, March 11, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 11, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
  RECOGNIZING THE HONOREES OF THE JERSEY CITY 1994 ST. PATRICK'S DAY 
                           PARADE AND DINNER

                                 ______


                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 11, 1994

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding 
individuals being honored by the Jersey City, NJ, 1994 St. Patrick's 
Day Parade and Dinner Committee. This year's parade will be held on 
March 13, with the participation of some very distinguished members of 
the community serving as parade chaplain and grand marshal. During 
tonight's St. Patrick's Day Dinner, the committee will be honoring its 
Irishman and Irishwoman of the Year, its outstanding Irish policeman 
and Irish firefighter, and presenting various special awards of 
appreciation.
  The 1994 Irish Policeman of the Year is Jersey City native, Officer 
Harold Tullock. Harold has been recognized many times for his 
outstanding service to the force, winning valor awards from the Jersey 
City Police Department, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the Police 
Officer's Benevolent Association, a Departmental Commendation for 
Bravery, the Lt. Stan Pryzgoki Memorial Award, and the James E. 
Simpkins Award from the Jersey City NAACP. The committee has recognized 
Harold this year for his bravery in responding to a fire at 24 Paerson 
Street in December 1993. Upon his arrival at the scene, Officer Tullock 
found the building engulfed in flames, with two children trapped 
inside. Climbing to the roof on a fire department ladder, Harold met a 
fireman with two children atop the building. After taking the first 
child to safety, Harold returned for the second, a 9-year-old girl. 
While descending, the child panicked and began screaming and struggling 
fiercely, causing the ladder to fall back from the building. Pushing 
the ladder back toward the building to prevent it from falling on top 
of them, Officer Tullock cradled the girl and turned his body to 
protect her from the fall. When they crashed to the ground, the girl 
was unharmed, but Harold had sustained injuries to his hand, back, 
groin, abdomen, and heel, as well as cuts and gashes from landing in 
broken glass and freezing water. After long and arduous therapy, 
Officer Tullock recovered, and more miraculously, returned to active 
duty on January 31, 1993. In recognition of that heroic act, he is 
honored as the Irish Policeman of the Year.
  The influence of the strong Irish-American community in Jersey City, 
and in New Jersey as a whole, has been felt by all of us. St. Patrick's 
Day has become more than just an Irish holiday, and is now enjoyed by 
all Americans, who become Irish for a day. The wide celebration of St. 
Patrick's Day is a far cry from the days when Irish-Americans were 
struggling for acceptance in this country. It is a testament to their 
determination and achievements that so many Irish-Americans are today 
pillars of their communities, and that for at least 1 day each year, 
everyone has a little bit of Irish in their souls.
  I am proud to have the opportunity to recognize the committee's 
honorees before the House, and I ask my colleagues to join me in 
thanking them for their service to the community, and commending them 
for achievements.

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